On My Nightstand

So right now I'm reading five books and I have one waiting to be read. Then I have two other books that I've finished, but haven't put back on the shelf. Plus my journal. It's getting a little crowded.

Above you see my current reads, plus my journal (which I write in every night). They are upside down because that's just the way they get placed right before a fall asleep. I'll list them for you in the order I started reading them.

Mountains of Memory: A Fire Lookout's Life in the River of No Return Wilderness by Don Scheese

John Steinbeck's short novels includes: Tortilla Flat, The Red Pony, Of Mice and Men, The Moon is Down, Cannery Row and The Pearl.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Montana History

Fire Lookouts of the Northwest by Ray Kresek

I've finished reading two of the above books and one of them is hopefully going to be read soon.

The finished ones are:

The Message by Lance Richardson

An Affair to Remember: The Remarkable Love Story of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy by Christopher Andersen

And next in line is:

Armour: Divine Protection in a Darkening World by Kim B. Clark
_______________________________

The Message was good, my grandma let me borrow it. It's about a guy who crosses over into the next life while in a coma. Very powerful.

I really enjoyed An Affair to Remember. We all know I love Katharine Hepburn. I also love Spencer Tracy. I think it's amazing to see how they influenced each other. Also they were both incredible actors.

via amyhollingsworth.com

Another great book I recently finished is The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers: Spiritual Insights from the World's Most Beloved Neighbor by Amy Hollingsworth. I LOVE Fred Rogers. I'm certain that he was one of the most Christ-like men to even grace this earth. He was so wise and I love reading about how lovely he was to people.

What have you been reading? Are you learning lots?

October 2013 Reads

Obviously I've been super bad at updating my blog, not for lack of material though. I read some great stuff this October! Here are the details:

via Amazon

Among the Shoshones by Elijah Nicholas Wilson

This book was very interesting. It's about a white boy who went to live with the Shoshone tribe when he was twelve. The only issue have with the book is that I didn't get a feeling that it was entirely truthful. A lot of it seemed like it could be exaggerated. Read it, you'll see what I mean. He talks himself up. A lot.

via Kaboodle

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

Likely you've seen the previews for the movie of the same title, I confess I read the book because of the movie. I won't be watching the movie, but I highly recommend the book.

It's the story of a successful, free, family man kidnapped and sold into slavery. This book is his autobiography. It is wonderfully written. I could really feel the truthfulness of his words. I think it's a great read for anyone who would like to read a first hand account of what slavery was like.

via Auxiliary Memory

Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne

My mom recommended this book to me, before she had even read it. She saw it on PBS. So I checked it out and I loved it!  This book is primarily about the Comanches and Quanah Parker. It's a very graphic book because this was a very violent time in history.

I think it's important to read things like this (and the two books above) because there are so many things in American history that we aren't taught in the classroom. It's our duty to read and learn so that we don't repeat history. I also believe these people deserve to be read about. They are a great piece of our history and heritage.

via buecher.de

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca is the story of a new bride trying to fit in at her new home where her husband's dead wife seems to have a hold on everyone. 

I snagged this book for a couple of bucks at the thrift store that I work at. I'd never read it before. I'd only seen Hitchcock's adaptation and I loved it. I thought reading the book would be fun and perfect for Halloween.

I was right. The novel is beautifully written, suspenseful and intriguing. I had forgotten the ending of the movie, so that made it even more fun. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good suspense!




Well that's what I've been reading. I just started An Affair to Remember: The Remarkable Love Story of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.

Montana Camping Summer 2013 Reads

I just got back from a 5 day camping trip in Montana. As usual it was magic; no cell service, no electricity, lots of swimming, hiking, games, and great food!

I also got a fair amount of reading done, allow me to tell you all about what I read!

via goodreads

Legends and Lies by Dale L. Walker

This book was so interesting. It covers everything from the death of Meriwether Lewis to Crazy Horse to The Massacre at Mountain Meadows.

Walker doesn't tell you which story or conspiracy theory is the truth, but he gives you all the information so you can decide for yourself.

Very interesting stuff.

via goodreads

The Journey of Crazy Horse by Joseph M. Marshall III

This book was my favorite of all of the books I read this last week. I will have this book in my collection some day!

It is the Lakota oral history of Crazy Horse. As I read it I felt exactly as though I was sitting with Marshall as he related these stories to me.

Aside from being really interesting, this book also gave me a lot of perspective. I always knew that what went on regarding the the native peoples of the America was wrong, but hearing the stories they tell their children and grandchildren made it really hit home. I even found some of it very relevant to things regarding America today.

Read the book!

via Creative Loafing Charlotte

Black Cowboys of the Old West by Tricia Martineau Wagner

This book is full of great old photos and fabulous stories of great cowboys.

These stories are of people who shaped the west. And they really are sensational stories.

If you like cowboy stories this is the book for you!

via amazon

More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Montana Women by Gayle C. Shirley

This book was so fun! These women are just awesome. They are from all kinds of backgrounds and did various things to influence and shape Montana and the nation.

I just love learning about inspiring people.

Apparently they have these books for for other states. I'm going to try and find the Idaho one.




















I also started reading William Clark and the Shaping of the West by Landon Y. Jones. I am only 28 pages in and I already love it. I'm kind of a sucker for Lewis and Clark anything. I can't wait to learn more about William Clark.

Anybody have any other suggestions for books about the west? There is so much history out there, I'll never get to all of it!

Idaho Loners: Hermits, Solitaries, and Individualists by Cort Conley

via Good Reads

I've been wanting to read this book for a while. What more could a person want in a book? Loners (I'm kind of one myself) and Idaho! And naturally the mountains play a part.

Overall I enjoyed the book. There are stories of 12 people who chose Idaho to settle in and ended up living alone (either by choice or circumstance). Other than the last two stories being really long winded, the stories are interesting, just like the people in them.

I do feel a little guilty reading the book though, some of the "loners" mentioned in the book were still alive when the book was published. That mean they were given more publicity and probably more people bothering them. That makes me sad. Obviously these people are interesting, but they ought to be left alone. Maybe the book should have only been about those who had passed away or choosen to be in the book. Maybe that's just me thinking to hard about it!

Anyway it was interesting and I would very much like to be an Idaho Loner!

The Help by Kathyn Stockett

via Across the Litoverse

So I finally got around to reading The Help (again, thanks to my best friend, E). And I loved it! Such a powerful novel about humans. My favorite line in the whole book is a revelation that Skeeter has while talking with one of her friends:

"We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."

When I first saw the film (amazing) a year or so ago I went to amazon to put it on one of my wish lists and read some reviews (I like to know what others are thinking). The majority of the negative reviewers were angry that Skeeter was the heroine and not Aibileen or Minny. I thought maybe I'd agree with these reviews after reading the book. WRONG. First of all the book doesn't really elevate any of the main characters (Skeeter, Aibileen or Minny) above each other. They are all humans. Learning humans. And all three of them are heroes, as is every woman who participates in the book or respects those around them (like Celia and Lou Anne). I think that sometimes people are looking for something to complain about and then they miss the entire point of the book. It wasn't to pit black against or above white or visa verse, it was to bring us together. Because we are all just people.

After the end of the novel Kathryn Stockett shares her story. Just like Skeeter did in the book. I love it. She is honest and you can feel it. 

You should read the book.

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

via Random House

So my best friend, E, and I love the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books. We identify with the characters and love talking about the books together. I have been meaning to read the final book in the series for a while now and luckily E reminded me last time we went to the library.

I loved it. and hated it. It was a great ending to the series, but like most life stories it was unpredictable and very different than expected. Ann Brashares is great at addressing how people really react to situations and remained very true to each character. I cried my eyes out most of the book, but am really glad I read it!

I think the Sisterhood books are great books for friends to read together and even greater for role models to read with young women. There is so much to be discussed and learned through these simple stories of the lives of four girls.

Anyone else out there a Sisterhood fan? Have you read this book? What did you think?

Good Stuff: A Reminiscence of My Father, Cary Grant by Jennifer Grant

via NPR

I enjoyed this book. Not as much as her mother's book Dear Cary, but as far as reminiscences (is it still a word if I put an "s" on the end?) go it was good.

It's not in any chronological order, but rather in subject order. Jennifer talks about how he father handled certain things (such as fame) and about things he taught her (such as budgeting). It is clear from her writing that Grant was a devoted father. Jennifer was his only child and came when he was in his 60s and had retired from acting. Grant had taken pains to save anything and everything from Jennifer's childhood. He even had recordings of her. She inserts small snippets of these conversations in the text of her book. The stories Jennifer tells are fun to read because this is a side of the iconic Cary Grant we've never seen.

If you are a Cary Grant fan (and enjoy reading up on him as I do) you will love this book.

Dear Cary: My Life with Cary Grant by Dyan Cannon

via My Books

I loved this book. First of all I adore Cary Grant (doesn't everybody?) and I've read another biography (Cary Grant: A Class Apart, I think). He was a brilliant man who shaped his own career beautifully. He knew who he wanted Cary Grant to be.

This book is a great look into his life with Dyan Cannon. I love the way she writes, it feels very honest. It's also easy to ride along with her. I found myself feeling excited for her at the beginning, then worried for her in the middle and proud of her at the end. It feels like you are listening to a friend tell you about her life. She's not bitter or angry, just grateful for her experience. Also she's just a good author. It was an easy book to read. 

If you like biographies about the stars of yesteryear you'll probably like this. I sure did!

Next up: Good Stuff by Jennifer Grant

Library Book Roundup

I've been pretty much terrible at posting about the books I've been reading lately (which has been several)! So I'm going to do a quick roundup and I'll let you know which I like and which I didn't. Then I'll do better at reviewing the upcoming ones.

via forwolves

Go Tell It on the Mountain:
A Collection Of Essays, Stories, And Journal Writings By Fire Lookouts.

I loved this book. The stories only cemented my love of the outdoors. Also most of the stories are Idaho based, so that's fun!

via Eurospan Bookstore

Mountains of Memory: A Fire Lookouts Life in the River of No Return Wilderness

I really enjoyed this one as well. I've been to several of the places he talked about due to my work with DEQ last summer. I learned about this book from a PBS program about lookouts. It seems like a great job to have!

via A Ginger's

Cold Sassy Tree

I have to be honest, I didn't love this book. I know it's a big deal book (that's why I picked it up in the first place), but the story didn't really appeal to me and I wasn't a huge fan of most of the characters.

I guess I'll stick to To Kill a Mockingbird for a classic story about life in the south.

via New Lenox Reads

This Time Together / Laughter and Reflection

If I haven't made it clear that I adore Carol Burnett I'm so sorry, let me do so now.

I adore Carol Burnett! I think she's hilarious, kind, down to earth and brilliant. The book reflected all of this. It's a bunch of reminiscence from her rise to fame. I loved ever second of it and now I need to find her other book!

via VH1

A Twist of Lemmon: A Tribute to My Father

I really wanted to like this one. I really did. I love Jack Lemmon. He's a brilliant actor. Sadly, I found this book by his son annoying. I muddled my way through all the way to the end and I just felt annoyed. The book seemed better suited for maybe a journal. Chris Lemmon just rehashes his favorite memories and tells us (on every couple pages) that his dad wasn't at the dinner table when he was growing up. I'm sure it really helped Lemmon to get all his feelings on paper, but I can't wait to read a real biography about Jack Lemmon.











Well, that's what I've been reading. Next on my list are two books about Cary Grant; Dear Cary by his daughter Jennifer and My Life with Cary by his ex-wife Dyan. I'll let you know what I think of them.

Oh and any recommendations for me? What have you been reading lately?

Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work by Tim Gunn

via Fashion Me Fabulous

Tim Gunn is a kindred spirit. I want to be his best friend!

This book is so wonderful. It's basically an etiquette, advice and self help book. I love it.

There are 18 Rules. My favorite rules are:

Rule 2: The World Owes You... Nothing - "Whenever I'm out in public, there are certain people who make demands of me as if I owe them a huge debt - even though we've never met."

Rule 5: Get Inspired If It Kills You - "Any genre, any film, any book can be the jumping-off point for amazing creative work." In this section he also mention that he finds The Philadelphia Story inspiring! That's my favorite movie. See what I mean? Kindred spirit.

Rule 16: Take Risks! Playing It Safe is Never Really Safe - "Risk taking in fashion is fun, but risk taking in our careers and in our education is essential. Ambitious people are more attractive and more fun to be with than people who maintain the status quo."

And my favorite Rule (and chapter) of all, Rule 10: Be a Good Guest or Stay Home (I Won't Judge You - I Hate Parties) - "Maybe this will be the year I actually start enjoying party giving... Or maybe I'll continue to put my gorgeous dining room table to a slightly less social use: doing crossword puzzles in my pajamas." Seriously. KINDRED SPIRIT.

I wish everyone would read this book. Society is slipping in terms of social graces and manners. It makes me sad.

Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland by Gerald Clarke

via she treads softly

I was really excited to learn more about Judy Garland, I think she is an amazing talent! I was already aware that her life was fairly unhappy and tragic, but this book really lets you know. There are some pretty ugly things you learn about Judy and other people. You probably shouldn't read this if that will bother you.

By the way, this book is very researched. Clarke has an appendix at the end of the book that states every source (most of which were interviews).

If you like biographies and Judy Garland, this book might be for you.

Goodness, she's wonderful!

The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier

via HarperCollins

I really loved this book. I even highlighted several passages. Instead of tell you why I love the book, I'll just post some passages from the book. That way you can see for yourself.

We put our kids to fifteen years of quick-cut advertising, passive television watching, and sadistic video games, and we expect to see emerge a new generation of calm, compassionate, and engaged human beings?

Of all my father's teachings, the most enduring was the one about the true measure of a man. That true measure was how well he provided for his children, and it stuck with me as if it were etched in my brain. I didn't know where I was going next, but I knew that failure wasn't an option.

What I'm saying is that by having very little, I had it good. Children need a sense of pulling their own weight, of contributing to the family in some way, and some sense of the family's interdependence. They take pride in knowing that they're contributing. They learn responsibility and discipline through meaningful work. The values developed within a family that operates on those principles then extend to the society at large. By not being quite so indulged and "protected" from reality by overflowing abundance, children see the bonds that connect them to others.

I must ask myself what I've done to support that vision of the future. I know that one can never do enough. "To whom much is given, much is required" the Bible says, and I give money to this and to that and lend my name to certain causes. But where I've invested most in the future of this planet- unreservedly, and from the deep heart's core-is through the lives of six talented and intelligent young women, truly beautiful human beings, whom I burst with pride to call my daughters.

I'm responsible not for what happens but for what I make of it. It's up to me to take my own measure, to claim what's real, to answer for myself.

I've only seen three of Poitier's movies, but I highly recommend them:

The Making of the African Queen by Katharine Hepburn

via Pat's Books Read, Reviewed, To Read

If you haven't heard already I adore Katharine Hepburn. A lot. She's my favorite actress of all time. So, you can imagine how thrilled I was when a friend gave me her copy of this book and told me I could keep it!

This book is perfect. I could hear Hepburn's voice as I read this book, it was written exactly the way she speaks. Naturally she is very honest and humorous.

I have always loved learning about anything extra I can regarding the movies I love. If you're like me, this book is just the ticket! Hepburn tells stories about everyone from the director to the hired help. You also get to learn about all the little mishaps before and during filming.

I'm so happy to have this book in my collection. It's a must read for any film buff.

Ahab's Wife or, The Star-Gazer by Sena Jeter Naslund

via goodreads

I stumbled upon this book at a thrift store. I don't general buy books I've never read before, but this one caught my eye. When I found out it was inspired by a passage in Moby Dick, I had to have it.

I read some reviews online before I started it and it seemed that people either loved the book or hated it.

I loved it.

I've never actually read Moby Dick, but a love the movie (Patrick Stewart and Gregory Peck are both great) and what it teaches. After reading this book I really want to give Moby Dick a try (in an abridged form, though- I've heard there is a lot of whaling information that is hard to get through).

First of all this is a long book, 157 chapters and 666 pages. It reads like an autobiography (written by the main character, Una). It has a little bit of everything in it including; romance, adventure, and history.

I enjoyed it because it's about a young girl (and then a woman) struggling through life. Her trials are much larger than could even be imagined by me, but they shape her and work very well in the story.

I can't really guarantee that you will like this novel and I probably wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but I really enjoyed it. I'm so glad I found it!

PS - This book is a New York Times Notable Book of the Year; was named in Time as One of the Year's Five Best Novels; and Naslund has received the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writer.

The Men of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by Charles G. Clarke

via Fort Clatsop Bookstore

This book is a must read for any Lewis and Clark/Corps of Discovery fan!

Charles G. Clarke has done a lot of research on the members of the Corps of Discovery via journals, family histories, and other means to create a journal that tells of the day to day actions and interactions of the members of the expedition. It leaves out all of the scientific discoveries and observations made by the captains. It's a really great way to learn more about the members of the expedition.

I highly recommend!

Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose

via Museum of the Mountain Man

I love this book. It's a great story of adventure, leadership and friendship. The best part? It's completely true. I love learning about Lewis and Clark and Corps of Discovery. This book was just the ticket. Stephen Ambrose gives you the history leading up the expedition and the story of what happened after. Ambrose is a beautiful storyteller and you can feel his love for these important historical figures.

In short, I love Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. This book helped me learn about them with ease. If you are at all interested in The Corps of Discovery you should give it a try.

PS - Ambrose also participated in the making of the Ken Burns Documentary Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery. I highly recommend the film.

The Greatest Generation Speaks by Tom Brokaw

The first book in this series is The Greatest Generation. You should read it.

“A common lament of the World War II generation is the absence today of personal responsibility ”

 Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation

via Amazon.com

If I could live in any other time I would choose to grow up during the Great Depression and then be a young adult during World War II. With the help of personal and true experiences of those who lived at the time, Tom Brokaw explains why. 

During those times there was commitment to one's family, country, town and friends. There was responsibility, respect and patriotism. These people didn't feel entitled to wages, honors or even their lives.

I think it's important for all of us to read about such great people and the lives they lived. Times are certainly different, but the values and honor upheld by the Greatest Generation can be ours to uphold if we will live them.

I'm Proud of You by Tim Madigan

via Mary Worth and Me

I was prompted to read this book after watching the film Mister Rogers and Me. It was a great choice. This book chronicles the friendship of the author, Tim Madigan, and Fred Rogers. 

“Do you know what the most important thing in the world is to me right now?”

“No,” I said.

“Talking to Mr. Tim Madigan on the telephone.”

The friendship started with an interview and became a life changing relationship for Madigan, his family and Rogers. This book is full of truth and love. Fred Rogers was a great Christian. We could all learn from him and Madigan.

Even if you don't read this book you should get out there and learn more about Fred Rogers. The man was amazing. Watch Mister Rogers and Me. I intend to read several of the books written by Fred Rogers. You will not be wasting your time by giving him some space in your brain.

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally

via In Sean's Opinion

I have been meaning to see the film Schindler's List for years, but after reading the book I don't think I will. The book was graphic enough for me, I don't know if I could handle the movie. That being said those of you who will not get around to reading the book should probably go see the movie. It's a story that should be heard.

If you haven't heard of Schindler's List it is the story of Oskar Schindler. He saved countless lives from Nazi concentration camps and gas chambers (he saved the most of any one person if I recall correctly). Schindler was not a perfect man by any means, but he did wonderful things. I think that's why I like the story. Keneally doesn't build Schindler up to be something he isn't, he just tells the true story of a great man.

The only fault I have with this book is that the author couldn't decide whether to use last or first names when referring to the people in the story. It was very confusing at first, but I got used to it.


Has anyone else read it or seen the movie? What do you think?

Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams by Nick Tosches

via Amazon

The San Francisco Chronicle was wrong. This book was neither brilliant, nor compelling. Let me tell you why. 

First off, it was poorly written. Really really poorly written. There was zero continuity and I often found myself rereading passages because I couldn't figure out what in the world the author was talking about.

The f-word was also used way too much for my liking. I understand using it when quoting people (such as Taraborrelli did in Sinatra: A Complete Life), but the author was swearing up a storm. The only purpose I can see behind it is that Tosches was trying to sound like Dean Martin. It just became annoying to me. 

On the same note Tosches also spokes for Dean, as if he knew what Dean was thinking as various times in his life. Tosches also states that no one really ever knew Dean. I guess that loops me back to the fact that it was poorly written. 

You may be asking yourself why I bothered to finish the book. I had two pretty good reasons. The first one being the I ordered the book through Interlibrary Loan. This means that BYU-Idaho sent out a request for the book to be sent to our library from another library so that I could check the book out. This costs money. It didn't feel right to have them order a book only for me to send it back the next day. The other reason is that I love Dean Martin and good biographies seem to be scarce. I really wanted to learn about him. I'm not sure how much truth I learned, but at least I now have a general idea of his life. 

If anyone knows of a better or accurate Dean Martin biography don't keep it to yourself!